20250501 [새벽묵상] 매맞은 자리에 약을 발라주시는 하나님 | God Who Applies Medicine to the Wound (민/Num 17:1~13)

17:1 여호와께서 모세에게 말씀하여 이르시되

17:2 너는 이스라엘 자손에게 말하여 그들 중에서 각 조상의 가문을 따라 지팡이 하나씩을 취하되 곧 그들의 조상의 가문대로 그 모든 지휘관에게서 지팡이 열둘을 취하고 그 사람들의 이름을 각각 그 지팡이에 쓰되

17:3 레위의 지팡이에는 아론의 이름을 쓰라 이는 그들의 조상의 가문의 각 수령이 지팡이 하나씩 있어야 할 것임이니라

17:4 그 지팡이를 회막 안에서 너희와 만나는 곳인 증거궤 앞에 두라

17:5 내가 택한 자의 지팡이에는 싹이 나리니 이것으로 이스라엘 자손이 너희에게 대하여 원망하는 말을 내 앞에서 그치게 하리라

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. 3 On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. 5 The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”

17:6 모세가 이스라엘 자손에게 말하매 그들의 지휘관들이 각 지파대로 지팡이 하나씩을 그에게 주었으니 그 지팡이가 모두 열둘이라 그 중에 아론의 지팡이가 있었더라

17:7 모세가 그 지팡이들을 증거의 장막 안 여호와 앞에 두었더라

6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. 7 Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.

17:8 이튿날 모세가 증거의 장막에 들어가 본즉 레위 집을 위하여 낸 아론의 지팡이에 움이 돋고 순이 나고 꽃이 피어서 살구 열매가 열렸더라

17:9 모세가 그 지팡이 전부를 여호와 앞에서 이스라엘 모든 자손에게로 가져오매 그들이 보고 각각 자기 지팡이를 집어들었더라

8 The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

17:10 여호와께서 또 모세에게 이르시되 아론의 지팡이는 증거궤 앞으로 도로 가져다가 거기 간직하여 반역한 자에 대한 표징이 되게 하여 그들로 내게 대한 원망을 그치고 죽지 않게 할지니라

17:11 모세가 곧 그 같이 하되 여호와께서 자기에게 명령하신 대로 하였더라

10 The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” 11 Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.

17:12 이스라엘 자손이 모세에게 말하여 이르되 보소서 우리는 죽게 되었나이다 망하게 되었나니다 다 망하게 되었나이다

17:13 가까이 나아가는 자 곧 여호와의 성막에 가까이 나아가는 자마다 다 죽사오니 우리가 다 망하여야 하리이까

12 The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! 13 Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?”

                “모든 안전수칙은 피로 쓰여진다” 라는 말이 있습니다. 1903년 미국 이로쿼이 극장에서 화재가 발생하여 603명이 사망하였습니다. 비상구가 잠긴 곳이 많았고 열린 곳도 여는 방식이 복잡하여 열 수 없었다는 사실이 밝혀졌고 이후 제 사무실 옆에 있는 문처럼 비상구에 가로로 큰 밀대가 있어 혼잡한 상황에서도 밀기만 하면 바로 열리도록 바뀌었다고 하지요. 1942년 미국 코코넛 그로브 클럽에서 난 화재에는 출입문이 모두 회전문이어서 대피가 제대로 이뤄지지 못해 492명의 사망자가 발생했습니다. 이후 회전문 옆에는 반드시 일반문을 설치하게 되었습니다. 한국도 마찬가지 입니다. 지난 2003년에 있었던 대구 지하철 화재 참사로 192명이 사망하게 되었죠.  당시에 비용절감을 위해 열차 내장재들을 가연성 소재들로 사용했던 것이 참사 이후에는 아무리 비용을 절감하더라도 불이 잘 붙지 않는 불연성 소재를 사용하는 것으로 바뀐 것을 우리는 알고 있습니다. 이외에도 사례는 무궁무진합니다. 이렇듯 참사가 일어난 뒤에는 그 참사에서 무엇이 잘못되었는지를 배우고 앞으로 다시는 똑같은 참사가 반복되지 않도록 하는 것이 중요합니다. 오늘 말씀도 마찬가지입니다. 16장에서부터 시작한 고라의 반란으로 일어난 참사와 백성들의 반란으로 일어난 참사로부터 이들은 무엇을 배워야하며 앞으로는 어떻게 해야 할 것인가가 바로 오늘 말씀의 요지인 것입니다. 오늘은 맞은 자리에 약을 발라주시는 하나님이라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

There is a saying, “Every safety rule is written in blood.” In 1903, a fire broke out at the Iroquois Theatre in the United States, killing 603 people. Many emergency exits were locked, and the ones that were open had complex mechanisms that made them difficult to use. As a result, it was later mandated that emergency exits be equipped with large horizontal push bars, like the one on the door next to my office, allowing them to open easily even in chaotic situations. In 1942, a fire broke out at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in the U.S., and because all the doors were revolving doors, people were unable to evacuate properly, resulting in 492 deaths. Since then, it became mandatory to install regular doors alongside revolving ones. Korea is no exception. The Daegu subway fire in 2003 claimed the lives of 192 people. It was later revealed that flammable materials had been used for cost-cutting in the train's interior. After the tragedy, non-flammable materials became mandatory, regardless of cost. There are countless more such examples. The point is that every disaster teaches us what went wrong, and it’s crucial to ensure the same tragedy never repeats.

Today's message is no different. Following the disaster caused by Korah’s rebellion beginning in Chapter 16 and the subsequent rebellion of the people, today’s passage highlights what they needed to learn and how they should act moving forward. The title of today’s message is “God Who Applies Medicine to the Wound.”

                  첫번째로 백성들에게 약을 발라주시는 하나님입니다. 오늘 말씀인 17장은 우리가 어제까지 함께 보았던 16장의 말씀과는 그 구성이 조금 다릅니다. 기존까지는 사람들이 하나님께 반역을 하고 그에 대한 반응으로 하나님께서 개입하시고 그들을 심판하십니다. 고라의 반란 때가 그러하였고, 어제의 말씀이었던 백성의 반역 때에도 마찬가지였습니다. 그러나 오늘 말씀은 먼저 하나님께서 모세에게 지시를 하시지요. 그리고 그 지시를 통해 드러난 결과로 인해 사람들이 반응을 하게 됩니다. 오늘 하나님이 모세에게 주신 지시가 무엇이었습니까? 2절을 보니 각 지파의 지휘관에게서 지팡이 하나씩을 취하여 지성소 안 하나님의 증거궤 앞에 두라고 말씀하십니다. 재미있는 것은 이 지팡이라는 말이 히브리어로는 “지파”를 뜻하는 말과 동의어입니다. 즉 이 지팡이가 이스라엘 열두지파 각각을 대표하는 것임을 언어유희로도 보여주시는 것이지요. 그리고 5절을 보니 “내가 택한 자의 지팡이에는 싹이 나리니” 즉, 그 지팡이들을 증거궤 앞에 두라고 하신 이유는 이중에서 지팡이 하나를 선택하시기 위함입니다. 이를 통하여 무엇을 이루시려고 하시는 것일까요? 하나님의 직접적인 선택을 보여주시기 위함입니다. 그것도 하나님만이 하실 수 있는 초자연적인 기적. 이들이 납득 할 수 밖에 없는 결과를 보여주시겠다는 것입니다. 그래서 더이상 제사장의 권한에 도전하는 일이 없도록 하기 위함이지요. 이제는 고라의 반란과 같은 일로 참사가 일어나는 것을 원천 봉쇄하시겠다는 것입니다. 또한 하나님께서 직접 밝히신 이 일을 하시는 목적은 5절에 이것으로 이스라엘 자손이 너희에게 대하여 원망하는 말을 하나님 앞에서 그치시겠다고 하십니다. 이것은 첫째로 모세와 아론이 더이상 백성에게서 권위를 도전받지 않도록 보호하시는 것이기도 하지만 둘째로 백성들을 원망하는 것으로부터 지킴으로서 그들 또한 보호하기 위함입니다. 굳이 제가 말씀드리지 않아도 이미 잘 알고 계시리라 믿습니다. 백성들이 원망하였을 때에 어떤 일이 일어나는지 말입니다. 그리고 이것은 오늘 말씀 10절에 잘 나와있습니다. 싹난 아론의 지팡이를 이들에게 표징이 되게 하여 그들로 내게 대한 원망을 그치고 죽지 않게 할지니라. 이들을 죽지 않게 하기 위함인 것입니다. 이것이 하나님의 본심인 것입니다. 오늘의 말씀을 얼핏보면 그저 모세와 아론이 선택받은 제사장인 것을 너희가 알라 라고 제사장 권만을 굳세게 하시는 것처럼 보입니다. 그러나 하나님께서 그렇게 하신 이유는 백성들이 모세와 아론에게 또다시 제사장권을 가지고 반란하는 것을 원천봉쇄하여 이들이 죽게 되지 않도록 이들을 보호하신 것입니다. 그래서 우상을 지극히 싫어하시는 보이지않는 하나님께서 이들에게 눈에 보이는 표징을 허락하시는 것입니다. 그야말로 완벽한 사후대처가 아닐 수 없습니다. 반란으로 인해 매맞은 백성들에게 약을 발라주시고 앞으로는 그런 일이 발생하지 않도록 그 가능성을 막아두신 것입니다.

First, God Applies Medicine to the People

Chapter 17 differs in structure from Chapter 16. In the past chapters, people rebelled against God, and God responded by intervening and bringing judgment. This was the case with Korah’s rebellion and with the people's rebellion mentioned yesterday. However, in today’s passage, God first gives instructions to Moses. The people’s response comes as a result of the outcome of these instructions.

What was God's instruction to Moses? In verse 2, God tells him to take one staff from each tribal leader and place them in front of the Ark of the Covenant inside the Most Holy Place. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for “staff” is a homonym for “tribe.” This wordplay indicates that each staff represents one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

In verse 5, God says, “The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout.” The purpose of placing the staffs before the Ark was to select one of them—God’s chosen one. What does God intend to accomplish with this? To show His direct, supernatural choice—an undeniable sign that would leave no room for doubt. This is to prevent any future challenge to the authority of the priesthood, like in Korah’s rebellion. God wants to completely shut the door on such disasters from recurring.

God also explicitly states His purpose in verse 5: “I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.” This is not only to protect Moses and Aaron from challenges to their authority, but also to protect the people themselves by stopping their grumbling, which would lead to judgment. As you already know, grumbling against God has grave consequences.

This is well summarized in verse 10: “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the Ark to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” This is the heart of God—to keep them from dying. At first glance, today’s passage might seem like God is simply affirming Moses and Aaron’s priestly authority. But the true purpose is to protect the people by preventing further rebellion that would lead to their destruction. That’s why God, who detests idolatry and remains unseen, gives them a visible sign. It’s a perfect post-disaster response: applying medicine to the wounded people and preventing future harm.

                두번째로 레위지파에게 약을 발라주십니다. 레위지파 사람이었던 고라의 반란으로 백성 모두가 레위 지파는 제사장에게 반역한 자들임을 알게 되었습니다. 반역이란 자고로 삼대가 멸족을 당하여도 할 말이 없는 중죄입니다. 그렇다면 하나님이 주신 제사장의 권한에 반란을 한 이들이 다시 레위인으로서 그것도 자신들이 반란을 일으킨 하나님이 계신 성막에서 봉사 할 수 있을까요? 저 같으면 못하겠습니다. 그런데 오늘 말씀에 이상한 부분이 있습니다. 3절입니다. “레위의 지팡이에는 아론의 이름을 쓰라” 이상하지요. 물론 아론이 레위지파 사람인 것은 맞습니다. 그런데 지금 하나님께서 이 일을 하시는 이유가 아론이 정당한 제사장으로서 하나님의 선택을 받은자다 라는 것을 보여주시려면 더 좋은 방법이 있지 않았을까요? 열두지파가 다 모일 필요 없이 레위지파만 따로 모아서 지팡이 실험을 실행하면 되지 않습니까? 레위지파 지팡이들 사이에 아론의 지팡이를 놓아서 아론의 지팡이가 싹이 나면 고라가 말하던 “우리도 거룩하다, 하나님의 선택을 받은자다” 라고 하는 반란의 논리가 논파될 것 아닙니까? 왜 굳이 6절처럼 각 지파대로 지팡이 하나씩을 받고 그 열 두 지팡이 가운데 아론의 지팡이를 놓았던 것일까요? 그것도 굳이 레위 지파 지팡이에는 아론의 이름을 적어서까지 말입니다. 아론이 자기가 이렇게 적은 것이 아닙니다. 하나님의 명령이었어요. 그렇다면 첫번째는 이런 것을 생각해 볼 수 있겠지요. 아 이제는 아론이 하나님이 인정하신 레위 지파의 수장이구나. 더이상 레위지파가 반란을 하지 못하도록 레위 지파 안의 제사장 계보가 아니라 제사장 계보를 레위 지파의 머리가 되게 하시는 것이구나. 그런데 두번째는, 아마도 이게 진짜 이유인 것 같은데요,  3절을 가만히 보시면요 이런 말씀을 하십니다. “이는 그들의 조상의 가문의 각 수령이 지팡이 하나씩 있어야 할 것임이니라” 하나님께서 의도적으로 모든 지파의 지팡이를 모으게 하신 것입니다. 그리고 이렇게 모든 지파의 지팡이들 가운데서 아론의 지팡이를 선택하시지요. 이는 표면적으로는 아론이 하나님의 선택을 받은 자임을 보여주시는 것입니다. 그런데 그 아론의 지팡이가 어느 지파의 지팡이입니까? 레위 자손의 지팡이입니다. 9절을 보니 모세가 그 지팡이 전부를 이스라엘 모든 자손에게로 가져왔다고 합니다. 그리고 그들 모두가 두 눈으로 똑똑히 보았습니다. 아론의 이름이 쓰여진 레위 자손의 지팡이가 싹이나고 꽃이 피어 아몬드 열매가 맺힌 것을 말입니다. 레위지파의 지팡이가 일반 백성들 지파들의 지팡이들 중에서 하나님의 선택을 받는 지파임을 분명히 보여주셨습니다. 그로 말미암아 레위지파는 아론과 더불어 하나님의 선택을 받은 지파임을 보여주신 것입니다. 반란을 일으켜 회복할 수 없는 레위 지파를 하나님께서는 이렇게 기적적인 방법으로 다시 하나님을 섬길 수 있게끔 회복하여주신 것입니다. 심판을 받아 매를 맞은 레위지파도 하나님께서는 회복할 수 있도록 약을 발라주시는 것입니다.

Second, God Applies Medicine to the Tribe of Levi

Because Korah, who led the rebellion, was from the tribe of Levi, all the people came to view the Levites as those who had opposed the priesthood. In ancient times, rebellion was such a grave crime that even wiping out three generations wouldn’t be considered excessive. So could those who rebelled against the priesthood still serve in the tabernacle where the very God they rebelled against dwells? Personally, I don’t think I could.

But there’s something peculiar in today’s passage. In verse 3, God says, “Write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi.” It seems odd, doesn’t it? Yes, Aaron is from the tribe of Levi, but if God’s goal is to prove Aaron’s legitimacy as the chosen priest, wouldn’t it make more sense to conduct the test only among the Levites? Just gather the Levite leaders, test their staffs, and let Aaron’s staff sprout. That would directly refute Korah’s argument: “We are all holy and chosen by God.”

So why, as stated in verse 6, did God command one staff from each tribe, placing Aaron’s staff among the twelve? And why specifically write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi? Aaron didn’t do this himself—it was by God’s command.

The first thing we can infer is this: Aaron is now confirmed as the head of the tribe of Levi. God is shifting the priestly lineage from being just a subset within Levi to being its leadership, thereby preventing further rebellion within the tribe.

But I believe the real reason is in verse 3: “Each leader must provide a staff for his ancestral tribe.” God intentionally brought together staffs from all twelve tribes. Then, He chose Aaron’s staff from among them. On the surface, it shows Aaron is God’s chosen one. But whose staff is it really? It is the staff of the tribe of Levi.

In verse 9, Moses brings all the staffs back to the Israelites, and they all saw it with their own eyes—the staff with Aaron’s name, representing the Levites, had sprouted, blossomed, and produced almonds. This clearly demonstrated that among all the tribes, the tribe of Levi had been chosen by God. Through this miraculous sign, God restored the Levites, who seemed beyond redemption after their rebellion, to once again serve Him. Even after judgment, God applies medicine to the wounded Levites to heal and restore them.

                말씀을 맺습니다. 우리가 범죄할 때에 우리는 하나님께 매를 맞을지도 모릅니다. 그러나 그것이 하나님의 본심이 아님을 우리는 알아야 합니다. 하나님께서는 마치 좋은 아버지처럼 우리를 훈육하실 때에도 마음아파하십니다. 그리고 우리가 매 맞은 자리에 약을 발라주십니다. 그것이 하나님 아버지의 마음인 것입니다. 우리의 죄악으로 인해 징벌을 받아 마음이 꺾여서 또는 자격이 박탈되어서 돌아갈 수 없을 것만 같을 때 하나님께서는 같은 일이 반복되지 않도록 우리를 보호하시고 우리를 회복시켜 주십니다. 우리의 좋은 아버지 되시는 하나님께 기도로 나아가기 원합니다.

In Conclusion

When we sin, we may receive discipline from God. But we must remember—that is not His true desire. Like a good father, God disciplines us with a heavy heart. And afterward, He applies healing to our wounds. This is the heart of our Father God. When we feel disqualified or too broken to return, He steps in to protect us and heal us, ensuring we won’t fall into the same trap again. Let us draw near to our good Father in prayer.